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>I would like to get some feedback on what everyone is using to lubricate their
>neoprene dry-suit wrist seals. I was using a 50/50 unscented dish-soap&water
>solution. It was very convenient and I didn't have to worry about it getting
>wet on the dive boat,however it may have been responsible for a premature
>breakdown in the seals, leading to there replacement. Now that I have new
>seals
>I would like to get some other opinions. I have heard that if you use talc, it
>must be pure & unscented...I am having a hard time finding unscented
>talc...any
>ideas???  and what about cornstarch??? and last but not least...how do you
>keep
>these powders dry on a dive boat???

It would most certainly be responsible for the breakdon of your seals, as
would washing up liquid which I've seen people use.

The best stuff to use for neoprene or latex seals is water based
lubricating jelly (most widely known brand in the UK is KY Jelly) which is
the stuff you use to lubricate condoms. It won't rot your seals, it washes
away easily, is cheap and easy to get hold of, can be applied to wet or dry
seals, and doesn't suffer in a wet environment. Of course it does leave you
open to suggestive remarks, but our whole club uses it so everyone joins in
the piss taking. You can buy proprietory stuff, such as "Seal Ease", which
is hideously expansive and is basically the same stuff but prevents
comments, and once it was empty you could refill it with KY in the privacy
of your own home.

One note of caution, however, never use any silicone based product to
lubricate seals. it makes them beautiffuly easy to get on, but soaks into
the cuffs neck etc. of the suit and makes it impossible for new seals to be
glued on. They just won't stick. A local dive shop told me they had
replaced the upper body on quite a few suits because of this problem,
resulting in quite a large bill.

Lynn Daley

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